Panel feed mechanism



y 1941- G. J. SNYDER E 2,243,056

PANEL FEED MECHANISM Filed March 8, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 N X k 6M55Q7JJ/Vf0f2 i P44 PH Nfiff/EOX INVENTORJ ATTORNEYS.

May 20, 1941.

G. J. SNYDER El' Al. PANEL FEED MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1939 Mxw 50m mew. rv NEW 6 M W Z 5 M4 E M, th m 1%! Na w. v QM. mm w y 1941- G. J. SNYDER EIAL PANEL FEED MECHANISM Filed March 8, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 mm. 3 Q g .f ax 050 D 2 v N F m5: J EH 5 m NWQN \2 Q Y m MMNQU B w mm W n 1| 3 w% R I .lull (W. K QM M a QY MW J ATTORNEYS May 20, '1941. G. J. SNYDER ETAL PANEL FEED MECHANISM Filed Margh 8. 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTORJ. 0

6145627 J 5N) me 8' BY Eauav N 655630).

WJ/W

ATTORNEYS y 20 1941'. G. J. SNYDER HAL 2 243,056

PANEL FEED MECHANISM Filed March 8, 1959 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 @wfzr 15mm? 1 E441 /V, Gav-F20 X INVENTORS.

BY [42% iW ATTORNEY 5.

1941- G. J. SNYDER ETAL 2,243,055

PANEL FEED MECHANISM Filed March 8, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 645527 J/WZZ S a E/MPfi/V @fFFEOX IN VE N TOR5.

ATTORNEYS.

May 20, 1941. J. SNYDER ETAL PANEL FEED MECHANISM- Filed March 8, 19-39 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 ww g ,3.

1N VENTORJ WWW ATTORNEYS Patented May 20, 1941 NETED STTES grease PANEL FEED MECHANKSM Endiana Application March 8, E1939, Serial No. 2.6%,.555

23 Claims.

The primary object of the invention is to ad- Vance groups of similar panels from astarting position to a point of delivery juxtaposed to the apparatus to be fed, with the: panels in each group in desired relation to each other.

A further object is to provide a device of this character with novel means for timing delivery of a panel thereby;

A further object is to provide a device of this character with a plurality of independent propellers including a propeller driven in timed relation to the apparatus to be fed thereby, and an initial intermittently operated propeller having control means associated with said first named propeller.

A further object is to provide a device of this character with a novel clutch mechanismior controlling an intermittently operating propeller.

A further object is to provide a device of this character to which panels may be individually and successively supplied in laterally spaced relation, with means for initially advancing the individual panels toan intermediate position, and other means thereafter moving said panels simultaneously in a group arranged in desired relation to each other.

Other objects will be apparent from the description and appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the device with parts shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view of the supply endof the device;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinalvertical sectional flew of the intermediate part of the device.

Fig. is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view of the delivery end of the device.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view ofthe device taken on line 55 of Fig. 4, but illustrating the panels and their propellers in elevation.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan-view of the clutch mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the clutch mechanism taken on line '!'I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a cam lever of the clutch mechanism.

Fig. 9 is an edge elevation of said cam lever.

Fig. 10 is a side. elevation of one or the clutch elements.

Fig. 11 is a face view of said clutch element. Fig. 12 is a side view of the control cam for the clutch.

Fig. 13 is a face view of said-- controlcam.

cross piece I2 and at its opposite end to a support.

I I, are positioned at the sides of the framev above rails H. A plurality of uprights R5 are mounted by rails ll, said rails being connected in pairs. by transverse bars it. Spacers ll depend from bars,

[6 and support a plurality of longitudinal vertical guide panels l8 each secured tocross piece H2 at its forward end.

A plurality of transverse rollers It, 2t, 2t, 22, 23 and 25, having their ends journaled in bearings 25. mounted on upper rails it, are arranged in spaced relation. Each of rollers I9, 2t, 21, 22and'23 has a gear associated therewith. Intermediate the rollers H and 22 is. mounted a. drive shaftldmounting a gear 2? complementary to the. roller gears, and'a driving gear 2-8. An arm 29 depends from rail 13. and mounts ashait journaling an idler gear 31!. A chain 3! passes. overgearsldand 2i, thence under gear 2'1, thence over gears 22 and 23, and thence around idler gear 30.- A chain 32 drives roller it from roller 20. It will thus be seen that each of rollers [9, 20, 2 I, 22 and 23. are positively driven at equal speed and in the. same direction; while roller 2.4. is an idler. The panels 33 fed to the device in vertical position between guides 58 rest upon said rollers and are initially advanced in the device thereby.

A plurality of idler gears 34 are loosely journaled on the opposite ends of the shaft of roller 19, one. between each guide it. A plurality of complementary gears 35 are fixed on a shaft 35 journaled in suitable supports on rails I3 rearwardly of idler roller 2G. Chains 37 run over gears 34 and 35. and between said guides. Each chain carries two opposed pushers 38 and two opposed, strikers 39, said parts being arranged in pairs. each constituting a striker and. a pusher. The driving mechanism for the chains 3i and 31 will be described hereinafter.

The intermediate portion of the device is best illustrated inFigs. 1 and 3. A plurality of elongated, horizontal, longitudinally extending channels 60, mounted on sup-ports carried by rails l3 and H, are arranged to support the panels. 33 as they pass through the intermediate portion of the device. The bases of said channels are positioned slightly below the plane in which the rollers I9 to 24 support the lower edge of the panel. A plurality of longitudinally extending guide bars 42 supported at their forward ends by guide bars I8 and positioned in spaced relation above channels 40, serve to hold panels 33 in vertical position While supported on channels 49. Uprights 43 are carried by rails II in rearwardly spaced relation to channels 40, and are interconnected by cross members 44. Longitudinal frame members 45 extend between uprights 43 and I above the panel and mount suitable bearings 49 which journal transverse shafts 41 and 48 each mounting a pair of gears 49 adjacent its ends. Over each set of gears 49-49 runs a chain 50, said chains being connected by a cross bar 5I which carries a plurality of spaced pusher elements 52 adapted for edge contact with the panels 33. The forward end of channel 40, and shaft 41 are both positioned slightly rearwardly of shaft 36. Shaft 48 mounts a third gear between which and a gear 53 runs a drive chain 54. A spur gear 55 is concentric with and has a fixed connection with gear 53. Gear 55 meshes with a gear 56 fixed on a shaft 51 journaled in bearings 58 mounted on rails II. A pair of gears 59 are fixed on shaft 51 adjacent opposite ends thereof.

The delivery end of the device is best illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. Uprights 60 are mounted on rails II, and cross bars 6| connect said uprights. Similar cross bars also interconnect uprights 43. A plurality of channels 62 are supported by cross bars 6| and extend longitudinally and horizontally in alignment with channels 49 but at a slightly lower elevation, the forward ends of chamber 62 terminating above shaft 51 and being spaced therefrom substantially less than the diameter of gears 59. Longitudinal bars 83 connect the upper ends of uprights 43 and 30 and mount upper cross bars 64 from which depend a plurality of rigid arms 65 between which panels 33 pass. Arms 65 support guides 42, and also longitudinal guides 66 for the panels. Channels 62 project substantially beyond upright 60, and in vertical alignment therewith the rails II carry bearings 01 for a shaft 68. Shaft 68 carries a pair of gears 69 complementary to and aligned with gears 59; and over each aligned set of said gears 59, 99 runs a chain 10. Chains are interconnected by a plurality of equi-spaced transverse bars 1! carrying panel pusher elements 12, the spacing between bars 1I being equal to the length of a panel 33 plus the spacing between panels.

As herein illustrated, the machine to which the panels are to be fed employs a chain conveyor with depending panel clamps or carriers 16. This machine is so positioned that it projects above the delivery end of the instant apparatus, with the forward sprocket gear 11 for conveyor 15 positioned above channels 62 and forwardly of shaft 68. The shaft 18 of gear 11 mounts a spur gear 19 with which a spur gear 80 on shaft 8| meshes. A sprocket gear 82 fixed on shaft 8I, and a sprocket gear 83 on shaft 68 are interconnected by a chain 84, whereby chain 10 and chain 50 of the feed mechanismare driven in timed relation to conveyor 15 and carriers 16 of the machine which the instant device feeds.

The mechanism for driving and controlling the initial stage of the device is best illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and '1. A platform 80 is suspended beneath the frame by supports BI depending from the frame. A drive motor 82 is mounted on the platform and has a sprocket gear 83 mounted on its arbor. Bearings 84 are mounted on the platform and journal shaft 85. A sprocket gear 86 is fixed on said shaft and is driven by a chain 81 trained thereover and around gear 83. A pair of sprocket pinions are also fixed on shaft 85, one of which has a chain 88 trained thereover and around gear 28.

A support 89 is carried by one of the supports 8I and the platform in spaced relation above the latter. On support 89 are mounted bearings 90 journaling a shaft 9| fixedly mounting a large spur gear 92 and a disc 93 having an indented peripheral portion 94 constituting a cam face.

Above shaft 85, a shaft 95 is journaled between rails II, said shaft being splined at 96 for a portion of its length. Shaft 95 has a large gear 91 loose thereon and driven by a chain 98 trained around one of the sprocket pinions on shaft 85. A pinion 99 is keyed on shaft 95 and meshes with gear 92 on shaft 9I. A collar I00 spaces pinion 99 from gear 91. One toothed part I03 of a clutch is carried by gear 91, said part I03 being cylindrical and having its teeth formed on its end. The toothed end of part I03 terminates adjacent one end of spline 96 of shaft 95.

Splined portion 96 of shaft 95 has slidably mounted thereon a cylindrical clutch part I 04 having teeth complementary to and adapted to mesh with part I03. A gear I05 is fixed on the splined portion of the shaft and forms an abutment for one end of each of a plurality of coil springs I06 seating in recesses IOI in part I04 and normally serving to urge said part into meshing engagement with clutch part I03. Clutch part I04 has a peripheral projection I01 adjacent one end thereof. Gear I05 meshes with a gear I02 keyed to shaft 36 to drive sprockets 35 and chains 31.

A cam lever I 08 is pivoted at I09 on support 89 and extends upwardly therefrom and includes a reduced curved portion IIO adapted for engagement with clutch part I04. The reduced width of curved part IIO provides a shoulder III at the lower end thereof and normally horizontally aligned with the axis of shaft 95, whereby the projection of part I04 may bear thereon. The end of curved part II8 of lever I08 is tapered at II2. Lever I08 terminates in an off-set end II3 parallel thereto and projecting from said curved part IIO. An upright II 4 on support 89 carries a horizontal bolt I I5 passing freely through an aperture H6 in lever I08, and mounting a nut II1 serving as an abutment for a coil spring I I8 pressing against said lever I08 to normally urge the same against clutch part I04.

An arm I I9 is pivoted at I20 on support 89 and mounts a pin I2I which journals a roller I22. A pusher arm assembly I23 is pivoted at one end to pin I2I, passes freely through suitable guide opening in upright H4 and bears against lever I08. The pusher arm assembly is longitudinally adjustable whereby it positions roller I22 in peripheral engagement with cam disc 93.

The control for the above described mechanism is best illustrated in Fig. 3 and comprises a support I25 mounted on one rail II adjacent shaft 51. On this support is mounted an L-shaped member having a lower leg I26 and an upwardly extending leg I21. Said L-shaped member is adjustably mounted on support I25 at I28. A bellcrank is pivoted at I29 adjacent the outer end of said lower leg I26. Th lower part I30 normally extends substantially horizontally in the direction of shaft 51 and terminates in the path of movement of propellers H, 12 on chains 10. The other part I3I of said bellcrank projects upwardly and pivots one end of an elongated rod I32 at I33. Rod I32 extends, forwardly downwardly to terminate in end abutment with car H3 of lever I88. A coil spring I34 extends'between support I25 and an intermediate portion of rod I32. and serves to hold the free end of the rod against a guide I35 and to hold the bellcrank in normal position.

The operation of the initial stage of the apparatus is as follows: Motor. 82. operates at constant speed and drives shaft 85 therewith through pinion 83, gear 85 and chain 81. Chain 88 running from a pinion keyed on shaft 85 to gear 28 on shaft 26,.serves to drive the latter at constant speed. Chain 3| driven by pinion 27 On shaft 26, and passing around drive pinions on rollers 2d, 2!, 22 and 23, and around idler 39, serves to rotate said rollers at constant speed. Chain 32 between pinions, on rollers I9 and 2e drives, roller I9. Thus as panels 33 are fed to the device between guides I8, they are propelled by said rollers to a position in engagement with stops 39 on chains 3'! which ar operated only intermittently, whereby the forward progress of panels 53 is" arrested as illustrated in Fig. 2. This permits panels 83 to be individually fed to the apparatus and at the same time be arranged in transversely aligned series or groups before discharge.

Chain 98 runs between another pinion on shaft 85 and sprocket gear 91 which rotates freely on splined shaft 95 at approximately the same speed as shaft 25- and the rollers. The clutch parts I 93 and I84 are normally held separated by lever I68 as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, and consequently the speed increasing drive loll, I 02 between shaft 95 and drive shaft 36 for sprocket gears 35 controlling operation of pushers 38 and strikers 3i: on chains 37 is normally inoperative. This speed increasing drive is intermittently operated by engagement of propellers II, I2- on chains '70- with bellcrank arm I33 thereby tilting bellorank arm I30 upwardly and arm I3I forwardly. Bellcrank arm I31 urges rod I32 forwardly and pushes against ear M3 to pivot lever res clear of clutch projection I01. Upon disengagement of lever I68 from part Iil'I of the clutch part I85, springs IilB urge said part I into mesh with clutch part I93 to rotate shaft 95, gears I65 and IE2 and their associated parts. Likewise pinion 99. thereupon rotates to drive gear 92 meshing therewith and cam disc 93, at a reduced speed. Rotation of cam disc 9-3 urges rod assembly I23 to the left in Fig. 7 as the roller I22 rides out of cam indent 54. Th rod I32 under control of propellers H, I2, holds lever 555 in disengaged position with respect to the clutch until rod assembly I23 is shifted as above by cam disc 93. Thereafter, and after return of rod I32 to normal position, lever I08 is held disengaged to permit clutch engagement until the slowly moving cam 93 completes its revolution. The parts are so proportioned that during the interval required for said cam revolution the rotation of shaft 95, gear IE5, gear I02, shaft 3% and sprockets 35 will move chains 3'! just onehalf of their travel, thereby transposing the positions of the two sets of pushers 38 and strikers 39 on said chains. By this operation of chains 3?, the forwardly positioned pushers 38 will rapidly move into engagement with the panels 33 at the left in Fig. 2, and push the same to approximate position of the panel at the right in Fig. 2, resting entirely on the channels 4!] on which the panels stop until the next propeller El, 52 on chains 50 engages the panels to continue their movement. 7

When the roller I22 rides into indent 94 of cam disc 93, lever IE8 is released to permit spring I I8 to return the sameto normal position. The projection IBI of clutch part 184 consequently engages tapered face M2 on its next succeeding revolution, thereby shifting part I94 for disengagement from part I03; and thereafter part Hilengages shoulder III to stop shaft 95 and the parts driven thereby in precise desired position. In consequence, one set of strikers 39 on chains 3i always assumes the same inoperative position, so that a succeeding group of panels 33 fed to thedevice will be propelled by rollers Ill-23 to the same position as that from which the preceding group has just been discharged.

The intermediate propeller chains 50 are operated in timed relation with delivery propeller chains Iflby means of drive chain 54 and gears 55. 56 and 59; and chains I0 arein turn operated in timed relation to the apparatus to which the panels are to be fed through chain 84. and gears I32, 50 and '79. Hence the propusion of the panels 33 along. channels 40 and 62 is synchronized with the movement of slab. conveyor I5 and its carriers. 16 to feed and discharge said. panels in precise desired timed. relation for pick-up by carriers I6 and for proper desired spacing between the panel groups as discharged to conform with the spacing of said carriers.

It will be seen from the above that. the apparatus advances panels which are individually fed thereto to a positioning or'grouping point, thence quickly delivers them in grouped relation to a pick-up point, and thence propels them at. predetermined speed and in predetermined spaced relation to a discharge point. Hence it enables the use of apparatus wherein panels are'arranged side by side for. processing, thus enabling processing of large quantities of panels; all without requiring more than one operator to feed the panels to such side-by-side position.

We claim:

1. Panel feed mechanism comprising a frame, a plurality of transverse rollers journaled in said frame, means for continuously rotating said rollers, a plurality of guides for positioning panels vertically on said rollers, a normally inoperative propeller juxtaposed tosaid rollers and having striker means carried thereby for stopping advance of said panels by said rollers at a predetermined point, and means for. intermittently operating. said propeller a predetermined extent to discharge said panels from said rollers.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, and stationary supports on said frame for receiving panels from said rollers, continuously operated propeller means juxtaposed to said supports, and meansintermittently operated by said lastnamed propeller means for controlling the operating means for said first propeller.

3. Panel feed mechanism comprising continuously operating means for advancing vertically positioned panels in substantially parallel relation to a predetermined grouping position, means for stopping said panels at said grouping position, intermittently operating means. for advancing said grouped panels to a second position in unison, said step means being carried by said intermittently operating means, and a continuously operating propeller for advancing said grouped panels from said second position.

4. The construction defined in claim 3, wherein said first named advancing means comprises a series of continuously rotating rollers supporting said panels, and said stopping means and second named advancing means are both controlled by an intermittently operating member.

5. Panel feed mechanism comprising a frame, a plurality of longitudinal panel guide means on said frame for positioning panels vertically, a series of transverse continuously operated rollers on said frame, stationary panel supporting means on said frame extending longitudinally from a position adjacent said rollers, means for stopping panels on said rollers at a predetermined point, intermittently operated means for releasing said stopping means and for advancing said panels to said supporting means, and a propeller for sliding said panels along said supporting means.

6. The combination with a panel processing machine having a continuously operating conveyor mounting a carrier for suspending a plurality of panels, of a panel feed mechanism comprising a frame, a plurality of continuously rotating rollers journaled at the front of said frame, stationary panel supporting means extending from a point adjacent said rollers to a position beneath said conveyor, means for stopping advance of said panels on said rollers at a predetermined position, means operating intermittently to release said stopping means and advance said panels to said stationary panel supporting means, propeller means above said supporting means for initially advancing said panels on said supporting means, and propeller means for engaging the lower ends of said panels for propelling the same to the discharge end of said supporting means.

7. The combination defined in claim 6, wherein said two propeller means are driven by the conveyor of the panel processing machine.

8. The combination defined in claim 6, wherein said two propeller means are driven by the conveyor of the panel processing machine, and said intermittently operating means is controlled by one of said propeller means.

9. The combination defined in claim 6, and a plurality of longitudinal guides carried by said frame for supporting said panels in predetermined spaced, longitudinal, vertical position.

10. Panel feed mechanism comprisingla frame, a series of continuously operating rollers journaled on said frame, a support on said frame extending longitudinally from the inner roller, continuously operating means for shifting a panel on said support, a propeller juxtaposed to said rollers and including a pair of spaced panel engaging members, one of said members serving to stop advance of said panel by said rollers at a predetermined position, and the other to propel said panel to said support, and means controlled by said continuously operating means for intermittently operating said propeller a predetermined extent to shift said panel from said rollers to said support and return said stop member to said predetermined position.

11. The construction defined in claim 10, wherein said control means comprises a spring pressed control clutch, shiftable means for normally disengaging said clutch, and means controlled by said continuously operating means for intermittently shifting said clutch disengaging means to inoperative position.

12. The construction defined in claim 10, wherein said control means comprises a spring pressed clutch, a cam member normally disengaging said clutch, means controlled by said continuously operating means for intermittently disengaging said cam member from said clutch, and means controlled by said clutch for holding said cam member in inoperative position for a predetermined time interval.

13. Panel feed mechanism comprising an intermittently operated panel propeller and a continuously operated panel propeller, and means for operating said first propeller including a continuously operating motor, a drive connection between said motor and first propeller including a spring pressed clutch, shiftable means normally disengaging said clutch, means controlled by the continuously operated panel propeller for intermittently shifting said clutch disengaging means to inoperative position, and means controlled by said clutch for positioning said clutch disengaging means in inoperative position for a predetermined time interval.

14. Panel feed mechanism comprising an intermittently operated panel propeller, a continuously operated panel propeller, a motor, a driving connection between said motor and first propeller including a normally disengaged clutch, means controlled by said continuously operated propeller for engaging said clutch, and means controlled by said clutch for holding said clutch engaged for a predetermined time interval upon each engagement thereof.

15. Panel feed mechanism comprising a normally stationary panel propeller, means for actuating said propeller including a continuously operating driving member and a spring pressed clutch having a projection on one part, a pivoted lever having a cam face, said lever being spring pressed toward said clutch for engagement of said projection with said cam face to disengage said clutch parts, means for shifting said lever to inoperative position against the action of said spring, a continuously operating propeller for propelling panels delivered to a predetermined position by said first propeller, said last named propeller intermittently operating the means for shifting said lever and a cam having a reduced speed driving connection with said clutch and a part between said cam and lever for holding the latter in inoperative position until the cam completes a predetermined movement.

16. Panel feed mechanism comprising a frame, a plurality of transverse rollers journaled in said frame, means for continuously rotating at least one of said rollers, a normally inoperative endless propeller extending around said rollers, striker means carried by said propeller for stopping ad- Vance of panels by said rollers at a predetermined point, and means for intermittently operating said propeller a predetermined extent to discharge said panels from said rollers.

17. Panel feed mechanism as defined in claim 16, wherein said propeller operates at a higher speed than the circumferential speed of the driven rollers.

18. Panel feed mechanism as defined in claim 16, and a second striker member on said propeller positioned adjacent the rear edge of the panel when the panel engages said first striker, said propeller operating one-half of its length upon each actuation thereof.

19. Panel feed mechanism as defined in claim 16, wherein said propeller carries a plurality of sets of spaced strikers, one set being positioned adjacent the trailing edge of said panel when the leading edge of the panel engages the rearmost striker of another set, one striker of each set constituting a stop and the other a pusher,

said propeller shifting the distance by which said sets are spaced upon each actuation thereof.

20. Panel'feed mechanism as defined in claim 16, and means for positioning said panel vertically on said rollers.

21. Panel feed mechanism comprising a frame, a normally inoperative endless member having an actuating run extending. longitudinally of said frame, means for intermittently actuating said member, a plurality of transverse rollers journaled in said frame adjacent the actuating run of said endless member, means for rotating at least one roller, panel engaging means carried by said endless member and normally positioned adjacent the end of said actuating run to stop advance of a panel by said rollers, and panel engaging means carried by said endless member adjacent the other end of said actuating run and actuable to propel said panel from said rollers upon actuation of said endless member.

22. Panel feed mechanism comprising a frame,

an endless member, means journaled at opposite ends of said frame for training said endless member longitudinally of said frame, a plurality of spaced transverse rollers journaled in said frame intermediate said first means and between the longitudinal runs of said endless member, means for rotating at least one of said rollers, a panelengaging member carried by said endless member and normally positioned adjacent one end of the upper run thereof to constitute a stop for a panel supported on said rollers, and means for intermittently actuating said endless member for a predetermined extent.

23. Panel feed mechanism as defined in claim 22, and a second panel-engaging member carried by said endless member and normally positioned below the plane on which said rollers support a panel and adjacent the feed end of the mechanism.

GILBERT J. SNYDER. RALPH N. GE FFROY. 

